Census count underway

Published 5:00 am Friday, March 13, 2020

The 2020 census count got underway March 12 and local leaders are pushing all residents to participate. Susan Eller, special projects coordinator for the Cullman Economic Development Department, told Cullman Rotarians why the count is important to the state and county.

“What’s a stake is healthcare, education, roads and bridges, jobs, and one thing that’s at the forefront of everyone’s mind right now, is congressional representation,” she said at Thursday’s Rotary meeting. “If we don’t get our counts up it could actually cause the state of Alabama to lose a congressional seat.”

The census count is taken every 10 years, with information gathered from the census factoring into federal, state and local funding. “In 2015 they did a study, and the state of Alabama received $13 billion and what that meant is each one of us brought in about $1,600 per person,” she said.

Cullman municipalities, too, rely on population to divide up proceeds from sales taxes, so an accurate count ensures they will receive the correct amount over the next decade.

In the 2010 Census, she said, about 70 percent of Cullman residents filled out the census form. “We’re hoping to get those numbers up,” said Eller. The highest undercounted population were children, she later said.

She said each household should fill out the form based on who is living there on April 1, the official “Census Day.” Even if there are multiple generations or families living in the home, there should only fill out one form for the entire household.

Census packets are being mailed to households that include information on how to complete the census forms either online, by phone or a traditional paper form. Any one can go online now to my2020census.gov and fill out the form. “It doesn’t take long,” said Eller.

In May, census workers will begin going door-to-door to ask people to fill out the form. The census count will come to a close at the end of July.

Community Census Days are being held throughout the community to get more people to participate and to help people fill out the form.

Editor Amy Henderson can be reached at 256-734-2131 ext 116.